suspect that the project sponsor started off with the intentions of opening a small shop and due to the success and the growth in the area he was a beneficiary and probably needed more seats is probably what happened, but with that i am not and never would be in support of this since it's not compliant, but it's unusual in he's voluntarily trying to legitimize his business. by denying i'm not sure how he goes about that to actually come clean again. he will run into the same obstacles. if there was a stack of police reports that reported to trouble and violations i would be not supportive of approve this, so i am really on the fence. i don't know if a

continuance, more time to gain support of your neighbors and extended neighbors. i am really talking out loud here but commissioner hillis. >> so i don't know if that motion to continue is still on the table but i support or remake a motion to continue with the objective that the conditions of approval are amended so can't just open a regular bar here but there are conditions that reflect what this business would be which is more akin to a wine bar and maybe there is live music, maybe there isn't, and the hours are different but the project sponsor work with the neighbors to figure that out. >> second. >> i guess i am up next. >> commissioners, when would you like to bring this back? indefinite continuance or do you have a time frame in mind? >> definitely before the end of

the year december 13th. >> that is fine with me if it's fine with the maker. >> okay. so december 13th. >> and i -- that's fine, yeah. i just wanted to comment also and i am reading over page three where it goes into planning code section 723.41 where it talks about specifically the type of licenses a bar with on site premises sales of beer and wine and it is a little -- the language from abc and the language which was part of our approval motion. i remember some of these but it was a little bit confusing and it probably grew gradually over a period of time and became more and more lively and i think what we're trying to do here is just

go ahead and straighten this out and get the legal title to it to conform to what the use actually is. >> commissioner sugaya. >> yeah, a couple of things. first we were informed by staff he has not made contact with the police department, so we don't know if there are complaints or not. i believe the project sponsor but i think we need something from our end so if mr. crawford could make a concerted effort -- >> that's a good idea. >> to get something official from the department and also in my materials unless i am missing something i don't have hundreds of letters of support and if that is part of the presentation i think we need to see something more and thirdly in this interim period i think there needs to another effort with respect to the neighborhood groups in the

area. >> commissioner wu. >> thank you. i can support the continuance today but for the issue of not setting a precedence and it will be there and it's not just to make it a bar but make that situation difference. >> commissioner moore. >> i would echo the last point made and i think it's important to receive further instructions from the city attorney what it means when the business turns to over to somebody in the future and thinks it's a bar. i am in support of the continuance and i need these things in the hypothetical case it's called over to someone else. >> can i call the question please. >> yes, the motion is for continuance to december 13. the

public hearing will remain opening and you have given instruction to project sponsor and staff and there has to be a public hearing on those findings. on that motion. commissioner. >> aye. >> commissioner. >> aye. >> commissioner. >> aye. >> commissioner. >> aye. >> commissioner. >> aye. >> commissioner. >> aye. >> thank you commissioners. this item is continued to december 13. mr. president before i call the next item we have a unique situation. we have a number of elder leer people outside that need to be accommodated with seats. >> >> i understand a number of people are leaving but because i am trying not to have them walk over people those of you that don't need accommodation i am going to ask that you move towards the wall with the monitors so we can accommodate the people that need seats closer to the door, and once

the people have moved those that are bringing the elderly can move into the vacant seats. >> linda, we're going to take a short break while this transition happens. >> ten minutes. the commission is taking a ten minute the moni near the door. and i'm going to remind you to turn off or silence your cell phone. >> madam secretary i have a quick announcement by commissioner sugaya. >> thank you. the historic preservation commission which ms. avery is also the secretary for presented her with these

flowers. they wanted to give you these and from the hpc. and the commission has a card and we need to get your signature on here and we appreciate everything that you have done linda and i think commissioners add their peace but i add mine to that. >> thank you so much. >> how about a big hand for linda? [applause] >> [inaudible] >> okay. now you guys excuse me when i am mean for the rest of

the meeting. okay. commissioners, if we can move forward on your calendar and again i'm going to ask that you try not to surround the door. it becomes a fire hazard. thank you. commissioners, you're now on item 15 for 1127 market street a request for conditional use authorization. >> commissioners, before ms. hilyard starts i want to introduce you and she's been with the department since february. prior to her work with the department she was the program manager at spur and worked for a preservation consultant here for three years and we welcome her to the commission. >> good afternoon president fong and commission. today is a

conditional use authorization request to convert a vacant movie theater into a living entertainment theater suropportunity to the planning code. the project site is on the south side of market street and the frontage of market stephens street. the strand theater has been vacant since 2003. the proposed project requires rehabilitation to turn into a performance theater and performance space and lighting facilities, office and a ground floor cafe for the american conservatory theater. 62 organizations and individuals have submitted formal endorsements and these letters are included in your packets and i have others letters that came in late. we have received no opposition to the project at

this time. we have worked with economic work force development and aligns with the goals of the central market neighborhood. department staff has found that many aspects of the project are necessary, compatible and recommend that you approve it for the following reasons. it will provide vitality to the location and the historic use of the strand theater and for the interior standards of historic property. the theater will serve as important cultural and entertainment venue and complement venues in the areas. it's aligned with the strategies of the central market strategy and enhance the neighborhood. the project is well served by public transportation and not expected to enbummure parking or traf in this case the neighborhood. it's desirable

and compatible with the neighborhood and applies with the general plan. the design team are in attendance and have a presentation. this kofn cludes my presentation and i am available for questions. thanks. >> thank you. project sponsor. >> good afternoon. i am ellen richard. i am the executive director of american conservatory theater. act was brought to san francisco in 1967 and by a host of leaders with great determination they left the city of chicago for and won the right to bring this theater to san francisco and founded by bill ball in 1965. they made their home in the historic area

and we have a fantastic picture here of them putting a picture up on the theater in 1967 announcing act is here to stay and we still are. as we celebrate half a century in san francisco's art community and we include to open a second home in the strand theater. we are in this for the long run. act has been a leader for performance and education since the first summer in san francisco. our master program in san francisco is rated in the top five in the united states. each year we serve an audience of a quarter million people and act training and education to more than 11,000 students. we provide employment to over 600 people a year. we provide thousands of

complementary tickets to the schools and areas of the city and supported by donors and committed trustees lead my nancy living son and mr. roof. when we first met ms. kim we were asked to do outreach. we have met with many leaders of community groups and various leaders. you have those letters of support in our packet. today you will hear several of the supporters and our president, our ark architect, we have speakers and from the tenderloin economic project, one of our students, one of the core acting company and students from the continuation high school. we

started a partnership with the downtown school and we are thrilled what we are learning about education working with this dedicated team and their passionate students. our partners are here to also answer any questions. our artistic director is celebrating her 20th year with act. her dream is to have a second space to explore artistic opportunities. for the first 20 years act was a theater company rising money for the geary after the earthquake. it's a magnificent theater but it's a thousand seats and limited ourselves and the performance opportunity focus the students and use by the community. >> >> when i first arrived in san francisco two years ago i looked at every possible venue on market street or near market street for a second home. i

came back it for the best performance and like the geary it was built in the 20th century and sadly the strand theater spent the last nine years as a porn theater before it waserated by the san francisco police and closeed in 2003 and since then it's been unoccupied because of squatters and birds and it has a wonderful location and public transportation doesn't get better. the area is sketchy now but we believe turning the lights on will only increase safety and civil behavior and excited what the market street plan will do for all of us. the new strand theater will houselet 320 seat theater and for

performance and events and a small cafe. it will open along to the street and allow act to increase subsubscription offerings and moster and increase the community programs and provide art education to the students of san francisco. we will provide permanent employment to 30 people and construction jobs and anticipate audience of over 100,000 a year at the strand theater and watching performances and taking part in the education programs. i am sure we will show a film from time to time. i am sure we will show rocky horror picture show at this time. we will please tourists and patrons to the area and opening 52 weeks of the year and furthering the economic strategy. we hope that the strand theater will be a welcoming center for the

community arts and gatherings and learning. we bought it in february this year from a gift from a board member and we are having a campaign to raise the funds necessary for the renovation. we worked with the planning department and come to agreement on every issue. we have support of the community. this is a great project but more importantly a long-term investment in the city of san francisco. we really want to move this forward and do it quickly. a conditional use permit today to convert it to a live performance venue is critical for our ability to get market tax credits and provide overall 20% of the project estimated to be $28 million. if we make the time line we will begin construction in spring of next year and open in fall of 2014 turning on the lights in the long dark corner of san

francisco with the incredible design of this revitalized space. i would like to thank the commission and the planning staff. i hope you help to me this project a reality in 2014. >> thank you. >> can we turn on the slide procedure? >> linda stepped out. >> great. i am michael dunakin and thank you for the opportunity to present this project. this is an incredible opportunity to give new life

and there is the beginning of a community there for act with the costume shop and the two building start to form a small campus for the institution. you can see looking at this position that's it's directly across from un plaza and has stevenson alley there for service which is terrific for the theater. the building can be an important player in terms of making the space at un plaza. it also has a great visibility and with the federal building behind it it's nicely framed. a short history of the strand theater. it was

this benefits students to get interested into something else

instead of getting into trouble. they find something they like to do and they might not have known that they liked. i am glad that we have this relationship between act and my school now and i want to thank the whole act crew for collaborating with our school and without them our class wouldn't be possible and i strongly urge the commission to support this project. thank you. >> thank you. [applause] >> hi i am rusty roof and the president of the board of trustees of act and i come on behalf of our board and other trustees and 100% endorsement of our board to this project. for as long as i of on the project and before it's been the goal

to secure a second stage and for our outreach programs and educational programs and also for smaller innovative productions that lend themselves to our large theater on geary. little did we know that a property like the strand can be ours and it's in a location that allows act to be a liter in the changing face of central market. we look forward to the day that our current and new audience will attend the the renovated strand theater and to bring education and great theater to our city. i ask the commission to support this project and look forward to you being there on opening night in 2014. thank you. >> thank you>> good afternoon.

i am brad and work with the nonprofit organization serving 350 dance companies and theaters in san francisco and nearly 3,000 artists and i am thrilled to see this project of act moving forward and embodied the vision that we have and the mayor office had and so many seeing the development in mid-market but i believe there were concerns raised about that development pushing out artists and groups and nonprofits and this is an incredible opportunity for us to save and restore a historic landmark and make sure that the arts and the nonprofits have a place in the

new midmarket. we heard moving stories from the students that act is working out and many of us haven't known and we are familiar with the geary stage but maybe not these stories. i am excited how this project will allow act to reach out more and provide great art to the residents and visitors to the bay area and many other art groups as well. many of you don't know at the costume shop we are giving that space away to nonprofits and i know she would like to do it at at strand and make it available to other nonprofits at a affordable rate and everyone will have the opportunity to use this space. i urge you to back this project. thank you. >> thank you. >> mr. president before the

next speaker comes up as you can see we're having some technical difficulties with our video broadcast and just be patient with us. it will come back on but the meeting should still continue to flow. thank you. >> hi. i am anaza and a core contemporary actress at the theater and have been for two years and a former student class of 2010. 30 grant avenue is currently hope to many of the individuals that make our theater tick but more importantly the home of the fine masters acting program. the students who come from afar to receivan

education here in san francisco and bring theater to life in the community. the thing is that this passion and dedication is much too big for simply 30 grant and deserves to be expanded father which is why we are excited and determined to bring this life to the strand in this area. along abandoned movie and vaudeville theater, dark and dilapidated and a community in need to serve it. by creating this theater we are confident we can provide art, diversity, education, and most importantly a new home for connecting act's community with the diverse bay area community and beyond. the strand is an opportunity to do

all these things and we can have diversity throughout. >> thank you. >> come on up. let me read a couple more names. (calling speakers). >> okay. good afternoon. my name is tiand i am a third year student in act's for acting. i joined this because it's one of the top in the nation and it's commitment to company. this idea of building a community of artists that support each other. it ren enriches us and showns through in the work that we

create. i experienced this first hand when we were given the hans to bring othello to high schools and we were able to bring shakespeare to students in ways they never have seen it before and relate to their lives and engage the students in what they witnessed and express how they were affected by it in a safe environment and i believe it changes the lives of the students and changes of lives of usace artists. it's my hope in the year to become a second space like the strand will afford the students and the community to have gold work and engages the community the same way we were able to engage those students. i

believe it will be a place where audience members will say their souls were fed from the stage and i urge the commission to share in this hope and enrich the life of the community so that we have grow and thrive together. >> good afternoon commissioners. i am eddy raymond and the vice president of ist local 16 in san francisco. i was an employee for act when i came into the union office. act employees hundreds of local 16 members over the course of one season. we represent the stage staff, and the permanent stage staff and the load for the theater as well as the scene shop and prop